Life belt

ABSTRACT

A life belt adapted to be worn securely about the waist of the user, having a hermetically sealed floatastructure comprising primary and secondary floatation chambers. The secondary chamber having a CO2 lever actuated cartridge mounted on a blister type card in a substantially fixed position therein. The outside dimensions of the edges of the card being substantially the same as the inside dimensions of the secondary chamber as to the height and length of the chamber for purposes of maintaining the cartridge and its actuating lever and supporting card in a relatively fixed position in relation to the life belt structure. Upon squeezing the top and bottom edges of the secondary chamber the card is flexed and the lever actuated, releasing gas to the primary floatation chamber through an interconnecting passage between the chambers. As the belt is made sufficiently large to cover many sizes, the punched end is provided with means for guiding the trimming off of the belt to a given size. The belt may be made of a suitable plastic such as vinyl or the like.

United States Patent 91 [451 Sept. 25, 1973 Diforte, Jr.

' LIFE BELT [76] Inventor: I Mariano P. Diforte, Jr., 3510 Northwind Rd., Baltimore, Md.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,035

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney-J. Wesley Everett [5 7] ABSTRACT A life belt adapted to be worn securely about the waist of the user, having a hermetically sealed floatastructure comprising primary and secondary floatation chambers. The secondary chamber having a C0 lever actuated cartridge mounted on a blister type card in a substantially fixed position therein. The outside dimen sions of the edges of the card being substantially the same as the inside dimensions of the secondary chamber as to the height and length of the chamber for purposes of maintaining the cartridge and its actuating lever and supporting card in a relatively fixed position in relation to the life belt structure. Upon squeezing the top and bottom edges of the secondary chamber the card is flexed and the lever actuated, releasing gas to the primary floatation chamber through an'interconnecting passage between the chambers. As the belt is made sufficiently large to cover many sizes, the punched end is provided with means for guiding the trimming off of the belt to a given size. The belt may be made of a suitable plastic such as vinyl or the like.

3 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTED SW2 5 I973 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTED SEPZSiSB SNEUSQFS LIFE BELT The present invention relates to a life belt to be convenientlywornabout the waist line of the user andis particularly adaptable to be readily activated bythe user under conditions of emergency by introducing a .gas such as CO from a lever actuated cartridge into primary and secondary floatation chambers of the belt structure for purposes of giving him sufficient buoyancy in the water to maintain his head above the water level to prevent him from drowning.

An object of the present invention is to provide a life belt of the present type having interconnected floatation chambers that are absolutely and wholly hermetically-sealed from the outside atmosphere with means 'within one of the chambers for releasing gas into the chambers when activated by pressure from outside the chamber containing the said means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a life belt having primary and secondary floatation "chambers, means within the secondary chamber for introducing gas in both chambers when activated comprising a lever operated gas cartridge mounted in a substantially fixed position within the chamber and in rela- -tionto the inside structure of the chamber.

Another object of thepresent invention is to mount 'and support the gas cartridge with its activating lever assembly on a semiflexible blister type card and having thecard positioned within the secondary chamber in a relatively fixed position therein whereby the actuating lever will at all times be maintained at the same location in relation tea-given point or area of the life belt and structural means to follow to trim the excess down of the punched or holed end of 'the' belt to a given smaller size with a'neat end edge. I

With these and other objects in view together with important structural details relating thereto which will appear as the present invention is described and claimed, consists in the construction and general arrangement of the parts relating thereto.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention in its preferred form. It being understood various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of my wide life belt showing the CO 2 cartridge assemblyand positioning chamber therefor.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the CO2 cartridge assembly in elevation showing my novel blister board support for the cartridge in the assembly.

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in elevation taken on the line=4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken onthe line 6-6 of FIG. 1 of the drawings showing the restricted gas passage between the positioning chamber for the cartridgeassembly and the main'flo'atation gas chamber of the life belt assembly.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the reverse side of the end of the life belt having the conventional buckle engaging punched holes.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of my narrow type of life belt, a portion of which is broken away disclosing my cartridge supporting blister board and the respective positioning chamber therefor.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of my wide type of life 'belt as referred to and shown fragmentarily in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the manner of detachably engaging a conventional type o'f belt buckle to my life belt.

FIG. 15 is a perspective assembly view of my narrow type of life belt as referred to and shown fragmentarily in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

FIG. 16 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is-an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a detail view of a front elevation of theCO cartridge supporting blister card without the cartridge.

FIG. l9is an end view of the same.

FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the card as shown in FIG. l8.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. 18 showing the rear blister as mounted on the back surface of the cartridge supporting card.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, each of which represents the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 and 11 to 13, the present invention consists of novel features as applied to life belts and as shown in the said figures of the drawings comprising-a life belt made up of two pieces of vinyl plastic or similar waterproof material comprising front and back portions 2 and 3 respectively and heldtogether by thermodilectric scams 4 forming a hermetically sealed life belt structure having sealed primaryand secondary floatation chambers 5 and 6 respectively that are interconnected by a gas passage 7.

The secondary floatation chamber 6 is provided primarily as a means for positioning and supporting the CO cartridge assembly 8 whereby the assembly will be held in a definite given position in relation tothe belt and its secondary chamber 6. This chamber is formed by the upper andlower thermo-dilectric seams 9 and 10 respectively, and will hereinafter be referred to as seams, together with the end seams 11, 12 and 13 respectively. Seams 12 and 13 are'short seams and are spaced apart at their inner ends allowing for a nonseamed or nonsealed area, thereby forming the interconnecting gas passage 7 betweenthe chambers 5 and The cartridge assembly 8 comprises a conventional CO cartridge 15 mounted in a metal casing 16, having a slightly sliding engagement therewith, the small end of the casing being provided with the usual type of cartridge seal puncturing pin 17. Forpurposes of causing the puncturing of the cartridge seal by the pin 17 the 3 assembly is provided with the upper positioned curved cartridge lever 28 having pivotal engagement with the casing 16 at 19 and impinged engagement with the rear end of the cartridge at 20 whereby when the lever 18 is moved down toward the casing the cartridge 15 is caused to be moved or slide forward toward the puncturing pin 17 sufficiently to break the cartridge seal allowing the gas to enter secondary chamber 6 and thence into primary chamber by way of the gas passage 7, providing the necessary floatation buoyancy to the life belt when needed by the user.

The cartridge is mounted in a substantially fixed position on the blister card 21 and halfway within the opening 22 of the card to balance the position of the cartridge to the card, to present a symmetrical outline to the cartridge assembly 8 and primarily to allow the cartridge lever 18 as well as its pivot area and structure to lie flat against the front surface of the card. Thus the lever 18 is held in a centered and aligned position with the upper seam 9 of the secondary chamber 6 and also this centering structural position applies to the pivotal structure of the lever 18 in relation to the bottom seam 10. See particularly FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

To prevent the front end of the cartridge from fully passing through the card opening 22 a plastic blister type stop or backing member 23 is fastened to the back surface of the card at the front narrowed end 24 of the card opening 22 and at the back of the cartridge puncture pin area. The flange structure of this member may be fixed or cemented to the back surface of the card having self cohesive qualities. To hold the cartridge to the front surface of the card and in a fixed position in the card opening 22 a plastic blister 25 is fastened or cemented by its flange structure to the front surface of the card or by self cohesive means, and may have a contour or shape similar to the cartridge casing 16 for purposes of snugly holding the same to the card member.

The card may be made of any suitable material such as a predetermined semirigid card board and as hereinbefore described it not only prevents the cartridge from shifting its position but also acts as a guard and protector for the lever member 18 by preventing the inadvertent pressing down or operation of the lever member under normal handling of the life belt. However, under conditions of emergency to give buoyancy to the user or wearer, such as a life saving act while in the water, the wearer may squeeze the belt in the direction of the arrows 26, see FIGS. 1 and 9, sufficiently to cause the card to flex whereby the lever 18 is moved down to operative position causing the cartridge to release its gas into the primary and secondary floatation chambers for the purpose of sustaining the wearer in the water.

The buckle end 27 of the belt is provided with a buckle 28 which may be removably attached and engaged to this end of the belt by the usual and conventional structure as shown by folding the buckle engaging end back on itself and fastening the same to the belt end by conventional snap members 29 as shown. The gas from the cartridge is blocked off from entering this noninflatable end area of the belt by the seam 11 as shown in FIG. 14.

The opposite punched end 30 of the belt that engages the buckle member is also noninflatable like the buckle end 27. The gas from the cartridge is blocked off from this end 30 by the transverse sealing seam 31 thereby presenting a flat punched belt end for engagement with the belt buckle.

FIG. 7 discloses a fragmentary rear view of end 30 of the belt showing indicia 32 indicating various belt sizes such as 42 inches, 40 inches and 38 inches near their respective seam and punched hole structures 33, 34 and 35 where the user may trim the belt down to a size suitable to his waist measurement. The fine dotted line 36 indicates the respective suitable trim or line of cut near the respective seams 33, 34 and 35 to prevent the appearance of loose material at the trimmed end. The present single belt is suitable for waist sizes from 34 to 42 and thereby obviates the necessity to make-up and stock-up separate belts for many different sized waists.

FIG. 15 shows the invention as applied to a narrow belt 37, to show the adaptability of the invention to different widths of belts. Otherwise the structure of the invention is the same as shown for the wider belt. However, with the exception that the width of the secondary floatation chamber in this instance projects beyond the width of the narrow belt and thereby provides outstanding distinguishing and ready means for the user in an emergency to locate the secondary chamber for operating the cartridge lever by squeezing the belt at this point. Otherwise, as in the wider belt he depends on the feel of the bulge of the belt at this point caused by the bulk of the cartridge assembly. It is understood otherwise that some kind of outstanding means may be attached or sealed to this squeeze area of the belt to help the user in this respect particularly as identified with the wide belt structure.

The present belt structure is shown with the secondary chamber and its cartridge assembly positioned on the left side of the belt next to the buckle assembly as worn by the user for the purpose of more readily enabling the user to use his left hand for the squeezing operation to activate the gas cartridge, allowing his right hand to be free to help himself in the water. lf he prefers to have the secondary chamber on his right side all he has to do is reverse the position of the belt. However, when this is done the belt structure will be upside down to its former position and in the squeezing operation the cartridge activating lever 18 will be pushed up instead of down as in its former position. This changed position does not affect the efficient operation of the belt. Of course, if it is desirable the belt may be originally manufactured with the secondary chamber and cartridge assembly on the right side of the belt next to the punched end thereof, or the belt may have these elements on both the left and right side of the belt as worn by the user thereby giving an additional margin of safety to the belt should one cartridge fail to operate or to give additional buoyancy to the belt.

I have described my invention specifically and in detail in order that its nature, operation and construction may be fully understood; however, the specific terms used herein are used descriptively rather than in their limiting sense, with the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, gas producing means within the secondary chamber to introduce an expanded gas therein when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the life belt structure, said means comprising a lever operated tridge is positioned, a blister held to one of the faces of the card and against the cartridge to hold the cartridge to the card, a lever adapted to activate the cartridge and release its gas into the secondary and primary chambers of the life belt when moved to operative position by the said sufficient squeezing force from outside the structure of the life belt.

2. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, gas producing means within the secondary chamber to introduce an expanded gas therein when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the life,

belt structure, means for substantially fixing the position of the gas producing means comprising gas cartridge and lever within the secondary chamber for preventing relative movement comprising a semi-rigid collapsible support therefor snugly fitted and positioned in the chamber and means for releasing expanded gas from the gas producing means when its said support and cartridge lever are collapsed by the said outside squeezing force.

3. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, a lever operated gas cartridge positioned in and providing means within the secondary chamber for introducing an expanded gas therein and thence into the primary chamber when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the life belt structure, means for stabilizing and fixing the position of the cartridge and its lever within the secondary chamber and to prevent any substantial relative change in its position through handling of the life belt comprising a predetermined, semi-rigid, card-like support therefor having an opening therein for receiving the cartridge and means for holding the cartridge in the opening and its lever to the card, the outer edges of the card being of a dimension and size substantially like that of the secondary chamber for purposes of allowing the card to fit snugly within the secondary chamber without substantial relative movement therein, the card providing protective means of predetermined resistance to substantially prevent the ready accidental activating and closing of the cartridge lever by inadvertently discharging its gas through careless handling, the said squeezing pressure on the secondary chamber causing the card to collapse and the lever to be actuated to release expanded gas into the chambers. 

1. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, gas producing means within the secondary chamber to introduce an expanded gas therein when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the life belt structure, said means comprising a lever operated gas cartridge and a semi-rigid collapsible card support therefor having an opening therein in which the cartridge is positioned, a blister held to one of the faces of the card and against the cartridge to hold the cartridge to the card, a lever adapted to activate the cartridge and release its gas into the secondary and primary chambers of the life belt when moved to operative position by the said sufficient squeezing force from outside the structure of the life belt.
 2. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, gas producing means within the secondary chamber to introduce an expanded gas therein when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the lIfe belt structure, means for substantially fixing the position of the gas producing means comprising gas cartridge and lever within the secondary chamber for preventing relative movement comprising a semi-rigid collapsible support therefor snugly fitted and positioned in the chamber and means for releasing expanded gas from the gas producing means when its said support and cartridge lever are collapsed by the said outside squeezing force.
 3. An inflatable hermetically sealed life belt structure comprising sealed primary and secondary flotation chambers, a gas passage between the said chambers, a lever operated gas cartridge positioned in and providing means within the secondary chamber for introducing an expanded gas therein and thence into the primary chamber when sufficient squeezing pressure is applied to the said means from outside of the secondary chamber and through the life belt structure, means for stabilizing and fixing the position of the cartridge and its lever within the secondary chamber and to prevent any substantial relative change in its position through handling of the life belt comprising a predetermined, semi-rigid, card-like support therefor having an opening therein for receiving the cartridge and means for holding the cartridge in the opening and its lever to the card, the outer edges of the card being of a dimension and size substantially like that of the secondary chamber for purposes of allowing the card to fit snugly within the secondary chamber without substantial relative movement therein, the card providing protective means of predetermined resistance to substantially prevent the ready accidental activating and closing of the cartridge lever by inadvertently discharging its gas through careless handling, the said squeezing pressure on the secondary chamber causing the card to collapse and the lever to be actuated to release expanded gas into the chambers. 